ETSU took four singles matches, Rivera’s win only three-set in all singles play

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 1, 2022) – A ranked win for the first time in 2022 was no joke.

ETSU got their first ranked win of the 2022 season, taking down #53 Charlotte 4-3 at Dave Mullins Tennis Complex. With the win, the Bucs have won 11 of their last 12 matches and improved to 6-1 at home. Their lone loss occurred against now #62 VCU.

Welcoming a top-25 pair in the nation, Charlotte snagged the doubles point after a 6-3 win at the No. 1 flight and a 6-1 win at the No. 2. Before today, the only loss Charlotte had when securing the doubles point was against SoCon-rival Furman, ranked #35 in the nation.

After Charlotte took the first singles match, Laylo Bakhodirova (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) put ETSU on the board with a dominant 6-4, 6-0 win. Alejandra Morales (Santiago, Chile) followed right behind with a 6-2, 6-2 win herself. Morales has won her last two singles matches while Bakhodirova made it three straight, including a team-high 15 wins in singles.

The 49ers took the 3-2 lead following a win at the No. 4 spot, leaving the five and six to decide the match. Yunuen Elizarraras (Cuernavaca, Mexico) gutted out an 11-9 tiebreaker in the first set to take her match 7-6 (11-9), 6-2. Elizarraras has won 11 consecutive singles matches.

With everything else finished, it was down to the freshman Daniela Rivera (Maturin, Venezuela) to be the hero. In the only singles match to go three sets, Rivera took two separate 7-5 wins to clinch the ranked win for the Blue & Gold. Earlier in the season, Rivera was in a similar situation against Xavier and pulled out a three-set win to give the Bucs a 4-3 win.

Before today, all of Charlotte’s losses have come against ranked teams (#22 Tennessee, #2 UNC, #71 Rice, #23 Furman). The last ranked win for the Bucs came on March 1, 2020, downing #49 Appalachian State 4-0 in Johnson City.

Singles Competition

1. #97 Laylo Bakhodirova (ETSU) def. Margaux Maquet (CLT) 6-4, 6-0
2. Alejandra Morales (ETSU) def. Ruxi Schech (CLT) 6-2, 6-2
3. Rocio Safont (CLT) def. Fernanda Carvajal (ETSU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Lucia Quiterio (CLT) def. Emilia Alfaro (ETSU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Daniela Rivera (ETSU) def. Emma Wilkins (CLT) 7-5, 3-6, 7-5
6. Yunuen Elizarraras (ETSU) def. Kaavya Sawhney (CLT) 7-6 (11-9), 6-2

Doubles Competition

1. #24 Lucia Quiterio/Margaux Maquet (CLT) def. Laylo Bakhodirova/Alejandra Morales (ETSU) 6-3
2. Ruxi Schech/Kaavya Sawhney (CLT) def. Emilia Alfaro/Mayya Gorbunova (ETSU) 6-1
3. Fernanda Carvajal/Daniela Rivera (ETSU) vs. Rocio Safont/Lucie Petruzelova (CLT) 3-4, unfinished

Match Notes: ETSU 13-7, #52 Charlotte 13-5

Order of Finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (4,1,2,3,6,5)

UP NEXT

The Bucs end the weekend against Samford on Sunday, April 3 at 11 a.m. at Dave Mullins Tennis Complex.

For more information on Buccaneer women’s tennis, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women’s tennis page.